Authentic Living

There is a beautiful quote by Brené Brown on my battle board that says, ‘Hear your truth and speak it no matter how badly your voice shakes.’

For me this is the definition of being ‘authentic’. It is something I have been striving for this past year. And to be honest, it’s been easier said than done.

It takes a lot of courage to let yourself be seen. To show the vulnerable parts you wish to hide from the world, knowing judgement and even some condemnation may come. To know others may dislike or worse, disown you, because your imperfections are out there. But you have to own your truth and love yourself through the process.

And there is something I have learned in the process... I have learned that in order to be truly free, I have to be me. It’s not easy and it’s not fun a lot of the time. But it is necessary.

The risks involved have been huge. But the rewards have been even greater. Because though I may have had to swallow my pride and make some hard moves because of my realties, I can now look myself in the mirror and see me. The real me. The authentic me.

I’m not as perfect as I thought. Or as pretty. Or as put together. But I found that I don’t have to be. Because the people in my life that truly love me already know these things and yet, they’re still here. And at the end of the day, they and their love are what matter most to me.

Striving to be someone else, a more perfect, prettier and put together version of me was even harder than this. Authentic living is not always going to be easy; it will be a challenge. But it will be worth it. And let’s be real… I’ve always loved a challenge. So challenge accepted!

And challenge extended…